The Importance of the Siddur

Hi,

"Among the fundamental texts of Judaism, the siddur holds a modest place. It is not an elemental or exalted text like Tanach, it is not a text of breadth or depth like the Talmud, it is not a text of mystery or the heavens like the Zohar. Opposite these great and various texts, the siddur appears to stand off in a corner.

"People study, review and examine the other texts. The sages of every generation learn them in depth and explain them, and their students struggle and exhaust themselves to understand them. Opposite them, the small siddur is found in everyone's hands, they pray with it - and then they put it down until the next prayer.

"But with all that, there is no book closer to the heart of a Jew than the siddur, and there is no book that has as pervasive and penetrating an impact as this. It is possible that the other books are more honored and more admired, but none is as beloved to every Jew, from small to great, man and woman alike, and none penetrates and influences the depths of the soul as does the siddur."

(R' Adin Steinsaltz, HaSiddur v'haTefillah, pg. 5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Arrogance and Mount Sinai

Hi,

"Rav Yosef taught: One should always learn from the traits of his Creator, for Gd left all of the mountains and peaks alone, and manifest Himself on Mount Sinai (a low mountain)."

(Talmud, Sotah 5a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tithing

Hi,

"Whenever a person profits:
-whether as payment for teaching, writing, or working, or
-whether one finds an item or is given an item as a gift, or
-whether one makes money in any way, whether silver or gold,
one must separate one tenth.

"This practice is invaluable, for in all matters Gd said one may not test Him [to see whether one will be rewarded], but in this matter Gd permitted it (in Malachi, 3rd chapter)."

(Sefer haYirah of Rabbeinu Yonah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

True Love, and True Love of Gd

Hi,

Quite demanding, but quite logical based upon his definition of love:

"'To love' means to feel one's own being only through and in the being of another.

"'To love Gd,' therefore, means to feel that one's own existence and activity are rendered possible and obtain value and significance only through Gd and in Gd."

(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb paragraph 49)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Accountability

Hi,

"Know before whom you will have to give an accounting for your deeds."

(Pirkei Avot 3:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Caring for the property of others

Hello,

"Rav Pinchas reported: Once a traveler misplaced chickens near R' Chanina ben Dosa's home. R' Chanina's wife found them.

"R' Chanina said, 'Don't eat from their eggs.' And so the eggs and chickens increased, to the point that they became a nuisance. They sold them, and purchased goats.

"Later, that man who had lost the chickens passed again, and he said to his traveling companion, 'This is where I left my chickens.' R' Chanina heard this, and asked, 'Do you have a sign [by which to verify that they were yours]?'

"The man said 'Yes' and presented the sign, and took the goats."

(Talmud, Taanit 25a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Importance of Torah Study

Hello,

"Study bring a person to action, but action does not bring a person to study."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai